he surgery, but Lily could

drian

gering effect of the anesthesia he'd administered to her. But the moment she awakened in the recovery ro

ng irre

ppointment to ensure the surgical site was healing nicely. She'd already been to see the gynecologis

d said. But Dr. West liked to pers

words had echoed in

o squirm. The paper covering the table crunched beneath her thighs. Her sundress was casual, loo

ed, and the r

arms, a white coat draped over his lean shoulders. He looked less doctor-like today and more like something off the cover of on

he said, voice

and it escaped before

king to hers with the faintest brush of

ently this time. "I do hope

dress. "Minimal pain. Some soreness and occa

ear. Fever? Dizziness

N

pet

to n

reams?" he add

bli

t... on

nd shrugged. "A f

his lips, there

tals were good in triage. Blood pressure's stable. Let me take a

kful that she wa

ill, Lily couldn't help but notice how his sleeves crept up his forearms, revealing strong wrists an

ody notic

e said, tappi

ly, heat blooming

dress and carefully examined the area near her lower abdomen. His touch was clinical,

ully," he murmured, mor

ce at his face-ju

and her breath ca

long enough to imagine that his hands were not gloved. That the ferocity with which

eeling off the gloves and d

aid. "You're recovering well.

sting her dress. Her fi

murmured, trying

imply watched her, the silence stret

r you said I was

te

d up. "I.

bs?" he asked, voic

tared.

uscle ticced

tients after surgery," he said. "B

she whi

there was no restraint, no col

able to get you out o

athing

s voice lower now. "But you... staye

Maybe it's the an

rk, the sound grating some

one of t

, pulling them nearer in the silence. Her heart thudded again

fire behin

steppe

Just close enough to have her t

out you," he said. "It's...

atient anymore,

ade hi

is voice wavered now. "I'm

u?" she

dn't

between them

said, standing slowly, the edge of

said, even thou

he di

ither

loser. "I don

kly, in pain.

e droppe

locked on hers. "I don't do safe. I've buried

t, her fingers

But it was like a spa

hispered, "I lik

rs, finally giving in to

eleased her, stepping bac

ke," he said rou

o the door, fingers fl

ss and aching and alive in a

stake. A da

e wanted to